The Tool Desk
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Recommended Act One route
Nintendo Life’s May 11, 2026 progression guide recommends this route as a direct way to reach the Citadel. It is a suggested order, not a mandatory sequence for every region.
- Start in Moss Grotto, then make your way through Bone Bottom to The Marrow.
- Continue through Deep Docks and Far Fields, then head to Greymoor.
- Proceed to Bellhart and Shellwood. You can vary which of these two you explore first; the recommended line puts Bellhart first.
- Take the straightforward late-game route into Blasted Steps, then continue to the Grand Gate.
Nintendo Life’s recommended progression route describes Blasted Steps as easier to traverse than Sinner’s Road, though the area’s final boss and the return run can still be challenging.
Ring the five Bellshrines on the way
Opening the Grand Gate requires activating five lower Pharloom Bellshrines. The shrines are in The Marrow, Greymoor, Bellhart, Shellwood, and Far Fields. They can be activated in any order, so ring each one when you come across it rather than leaving all five for a cleanup trip.
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- Discover the fallen insect kingdom of Pharloom! Explore mossy grottos, gilded cities and misted moors as you ascend to the shining citadel at the top of the world.
- Engage in lethal acrobatic action! Wield a huge suite of deadly moves as you dance between foes in swift, beautiful combat.
- Craft powerful tools! Master an ever-expanding arsenal of weapons, traps, and mechanisms to vanquish your enemies and explore new heights.
- Solve shocking quests! Hunt down rare beasts and solve ancient mysteries to grant the wishes of the downtrodden and restore the kingdom’s hope.
- Face over 200 ferocious foes! Beasts and hunters, monsters and knights. Defeat them all with bravery and skill!
After all five are rung, return to the Grand Gate below the Citadel. The gate opens and triggers the Last Judge encounter. Defeating the gatekeeper completes The Great Citadel quest and brings Act One to a close.
For the quest sequence, see the Grand Gate quest guide and The Great Citadel quest guide (both last updated August 9, 2026).
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- Journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover secrets tied to your nature and your past.
Blasted Steps or Sinner’s Road?
Sinner’s Road, above Greymoor, is an alternate way toward Act One’s end. It leads through The Mist and the Exhaust Organ. Nintendo Life characterizes it as more difficult than Blasted Steps; the Exhaust Organ also has a boss and offers a Silk Skill reward.
| Route | What to expect | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Blasted Steps | The recommended, more straightforward route to the Grand Gate; easier to traverse than Sinner’s Road. | The final boss and run-back can still be difficult. |
| Sinner’s Road | Alternate route above Greymoor through The Mist and the Exhaust Organ, which has a boss. | More demanding overall, with a Silk Skill reward at the Exhaust Organ. |
Choose Blasted Steps if your priority is the more direct approach. Take Sinner’s Road if you want its alternate challenge and reward.
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- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Explore a vast interconnected world of forgotten highways, overgrown wilds and ruined cities.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!.Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favourites and make your journey unique!.An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation..
What marks the end of Act One?
Entering the Citadel marks the transition from Act One to Act Two. The key progression check is the Grand Gate: activate the five lower Bellshrines, return to the gate, and defeat the Last Judge after it opens. The Great Citadel quest guide describes that sequence as the end of Act One.
Quick Recap
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- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!
- Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favorites and make your journey unique!
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
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